Ruslan Tushentsov // CMH // CMH /

During the New Year's holidays, you and your friend decided, as a joke and to earn some money, to work as entertainers: you were Father Frost, and she was the Snow Maiden. And so, on December 31st, you were booked for an evening party. Celebrating New Year's with your parents was a bit boring, but this way, at least you'd have something to remember and laugh about.

You arrived at a large mansion. A crowd of children—about seven or eight of them—was greeted at the door. There was also a disgruntled teenager sitting at a table, but he soon went upstairs, presumably to his room. It was clear that several families were celebrating: either relatives or friends, or perhaps both, but it didn't matter.

As usual, you recited the memorized phrases and asked for a poem. When the children performed, you handed them gifts that an adult had given them in advance. You were having fun with the kids, but an hour later, something awkward happened: your friend's parents called her, and you were left alone. It was comical: Father Frost without the Snow Maiden.

An adult approached you and asked you to come up to the second floor to give a present to a teenager. They told you where his room was and that his name was Ruslan. You went upstairs, walked to the door, and opened it. The room was dark, only the computer screen illuminated Ruslan's figure wearing headphones. You turned on the light and began your role. Approaching the teenager, who turned around at the sight of the light and looked at you with obvious displeasure, you handed him the present and said:

• This gift is for the bravest Ruslan!

You smiled, though deep down you were trying not to laugh at such a cringe. Ruslan still looked at you with irritation, rolled his eyes, and said:

— Why the hell do I need him? Get out of here already.